Avid Pro Audio Community

Avid Pro Audio Community

How to Join & Post  •  Community Terms of Use  •  Help Us Help You

Knowledge Base Search  •  Community Search  •  Learn & Support


Avid Home Page

Go Back   Avid Pro Audio Community > Pro Tools Software > macOS

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 05-29-2019, 03:07 AM
tabonik tabonik is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Wanssum, NL
Posts: 18
Default 128GB vs 64GB memory

I have installed 128GB of internal memory in my 12-core Mac pro late 2013.
However, i am considering switching that to 64GB because of the clock speed difference of the memory.

128GB --> 1066 MHz DDR3
64GB --> 1866 MHz DDR3

As i understand, the computer will be significantly faster when the memory above 64GB is actually used, despite it being a slower clock speed.

But when i push it, the memory activity meter in PT only shows let's say 20% max.. Does that mean it is not using the extra memory at all?

My Q: What would be the advised memory to use?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 05-29-2019, 04:24 AM
musicman691 musicman691 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: The Sopranos State (NJ)
Posts: 19,136
Default Re: 128GB vs 64GB memory

Quote:
Originally Posted by tabonik View Post
I have installed 128GB of internal memory in my 12-core Mac pro late 2013.
However, i am considering switching that to 64GB because of the clock speed difference of the memory.

128GB --> 1066 MHz DDR3
64GB --> 1866 MHz DDR3

As i understand, the computer will be significantly faster when the memory above 64GB is actually used, despite it being a slower clock speed.

But when i push it, the memory activity meter in PT only shows let's say 20% max.. Does that mean it is not using the extra memory at all?

My Q: What would be the advised memory to use?
I think your memory speed specs for the 128 gig are wrong, at least according to the OWC site. They show a speed of 1333 MHz for the 32GB modules and 1866 MHz for all their other ram. If you want max performance instead of filling all four memory slots just use the first three as MacPros use triple channel ram (or at least they used to). To save yourself some money just pull the ram module in slot 4 and leave yourself with 96 gig of ram. Ram bus speed for the trashcan is 1833 MHz.

I know some places like OWC will let you do a swap of memory modules buying back your old stuff but you'll never recoup all the money and end up paying more if you go for the smaller ram modules.
__________________
Jack
See profile for system details
iMac dead & retired as of 11/4/17

QAPLA!
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 05-29-2019, 05:13 AM
tabonik tabonik is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Wanssum, NL
Posts: 18
Default Re: 128GB vs 64GB memory

The memory speed specs for the 128GB are correct: 1066MHz.

I just bought the system as configured and the seller offered me to swap the memory if i wanted. So it is not a matter of loosing coins. I am just looking for the most effective way of configuring it.

I guess the main question is; does PT use more than 64GB in extreme situations? Because if so, i guess i shouldn't change it.

As a side point i must say i had some instability issues causing the Mac to crash a lot. I thought this could be because of the 128GB which is not officially supported by Apple for this system. I tested the memory using the cards individually in each slot, but that seems ok. I did an smc reset. I think that helped a bit but it didn't heal the Mac completely. But suddenly in the last >week or so the Mac runs like a charm.. So i'm not sure why or how but it seems to be solved. Strange stuff yeah...
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 05-29-2019, 05:27 AM
musicman691 musicman691 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: The Sopranos State (NJ)
Posts: 19,136
Default Re: 128GB vs 64GB memory

Quote:
Originally Posted by tabonik View Post
The memory speed specs for the 128GB are correct: 1066MHz.

I just bought the system as configured and the seller offered me to swap the memory if i wanted. So it is not a matter of loosing coins. I am just looking for the most effective way of configuring it.

I guess the main question is; does PT use more than 64GB in extreme situations? Because if so, i guess i shouldn't change it.

As a side point i must say i had some instability issues causing the Mac to crash a lot. I thought this could be because of the 128GB which is not officially supported by Apple for this system. I tested the memory using the cards individually in each slot, but that seems ok. I did an smc reset. I think that helped a bit but it didn't heal the Mac completely. But suddenly in the last >week or so the Mac runs like a charm.. So i'm not sure why or how but it seems to be solved. Strange stuff yeah...
I still say that speed for the 128 gig is wrong. Who are you getting the computer from? And where is that person/business getting their ram from? I'm basing my words off of this page at OWC: https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/1333D3Z3M128/

If you're getting crashes due to instability I don't think the ram itself is the culprit but that you have other issues. It could be the ram used isn't compatible with your Mac Pro. Testing individual ram modules on their own won't necessarily tell you anything. Plenty of people use more ram than what Apple says works and have no stability issues provided the ram is compatible with the Mac in question. Apple bases their ram specs on what is available at the time a particular model is released.

PT will use as much as ram as it needs to use and with 64 bit addressing it can address more ram than anyone can put in any current consumer (i.e. non-government) computer.

Get in touch with Darryll Ramm (he's a member here) as he might well be able to help you with some of the h/w debugging you're going to need to do.

BTW - what OSX are you running?
__________________
Jack
See profile for system details
iMac dead & retired as of 11/4/17

QAPLA!
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 05-29-2019, 05:30 AM
Southsidemusic's Avatar
Southsidemusic Southsidemusic is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Stockholm - Sweden
Posts: 13,767
Default Re: 128GB vs 64GB memory

Jack, Just for non confusion the Ram bus speed for the trashcan is 1866 MHz Not 1833 MHz. I know that was a typo, just want this to be 100% clear
__________________
Best Regards
Christopher

#thestruggleisreal
—————————————
South Side Music Group
WEBHOME
—————————————
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 05-29-2019, 06:07 AM
tabonik tabonik is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Wanssum, NL
Posts: 18
Default Re: 128GB vs 64GB memory

The link to the OWC memory kit is interesting. I'm getting my computer from a refurbished Mac reseller who sells a lot here in Holland. Not sure where they get the memory from.
But i found this article where they also talk about 1066MHz for the 128GB;
https://barefeats.com/tube15.html

"PT will use as much as ram as it needs to use and with 64 bit addressing it can address more ram than anyone can put in any current consumer (i.e. non-government) computer." - In that case the 128GB should be an improvement over the 64GB indeed. Thanks for confirming.

I'm running the latest OS Mojave version 10.14.5.

Thanks a lot for leading me to Darryll, i will contact him when needed. As said the computer runs without any issues at the moment.
I updated from High Sierra to Mojave a couple of days ago. It was already running well on High Sierra the days before updating, so i cannot say Mojave did the trick although it might be more stable as well.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 05-29-2019, 06:54 AM
tabonik tabonik is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Wanssum, NL
Posts: 18
Default Re: 128GB vs 64GB memory

FYI- I contacted macsales about the OWC memory and they provide the following info;

"Due to processor design and memory architectures, 32GB module utilization occurs at a bus speed of 1066MHz with Apple Mac Pro 2013 E5-16XXv2 4-Core, 6-Core, and 8-Core processor equipped models, 800MHz with factory 12-Core or after-market E5-26XX equipped models. Utilization of 2 or more 32GB modules minimum is recommended and utilization of overall performance with applications and workflows able to utilize higher available memory remains exceptional.

To clarify, the bus speed of your memory at 128GB would be 800MHz. However, this should still perform well for you considering you'd have 128GB of memory in total."
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 05-29-2019, 07:42 AM
musicman691 musicman691 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: The Sopranos State (NJ)
Posts: 19,136
Default Re: 128GB vs 64GB memory

Quote:
Originally Posted by Southsidemusic View Post
Jack, Just for non confusion the Ram bus speed for the trashcan is 1866 MHz Not 1833 MHz. I know that was a typo, just want this to be 100% clear
Thanks for the correction; got my figures crossed.
__________________
Jack
See profile for system details
iMac dead & retired as of 11/4/17

QAPLA!
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 05-29-2019, 07:47 AM
musicman691 musicman691 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: The Sopranos State (NJ)
Posts: 19,136
Default Re: 128GB vs 64GB memory

Quote:
Originally Posted by tabonik View Post
FYI- I contacted macsales about the OWC memory and they provide the following info;

"Due to processor design and memory architectures, 32GB module utilization occurs at a bus speed of 1066MHz with Apple Mac Pro 2013 E5-16XXv2 4-Core, 6-Core, and 8-Core processor equipped models, 800MHz with factory 12-Core or after-market E5-26XX equipped models. Utilization of 2 or more 32GB modules minimum is recommended and utilization of overall performance with applications and workflows able to utilize higher available memory remains exceptional.

To clarify, the bus speed of your memory at 128GB would be 800MHz. However, this should still perform well for you considering you'd have 128GB of memory in total."
That's an interesting bit of news to say the least.
__________________
Jack
See profile for system details
iMac dead & retired as of 11/4/17

QAPLA!
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 05-29-2019, 07:55 AM
reichman's Avatar
reichman reichman is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: New York
Posts: 2,411
Default Re: 128GB vs 64GB memory

Pro Tools as an application will never use more than 64GB RAM for application operation. But it can use 64GB+ if you set your cache size in Playback Engine to utilize the RAM for audio storage. So unless the audio in your typical sessions exceeds about 32GB, you will see no benefit above 64GB total RAM in the machine.

I chose 64GB because I could just about get a half hour TV show, PT, SoundMiner, EuCon and Atmos Production Suite to fit into that nicely.
__________________
Nathaniel Reichman
Producer/Re-recording Mixer - New York
Nathaniel Reichman | IMDB | LinkedIn
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
64GB RAM On A Motherboard? Ion 64 w/64GB Ram. epu 003, Mbox 2, Digi 002, original Mbox, Digi 001 (Win) 4 11-08-2009 11:54 AM


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 02:51 AM.


Powered by: vBulletin, Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Limited. Forum Hosted By: URLJet.com